Houston Astros vs San Diego Padres mlb live streaming 5/6. Online Radio Commentary Espn 360 Gamecast Experts Review Power Ranking Yahoo TBS Yes Network and Espn. The San Diego Padres are in last place in the NL West, but they're just seven games out of first -- not bad for a team with the league's worst home record.
They're hoping that's a title they won't have much longer.
San Diego (26-33) finished with identical 45-36 home and road records in 2010 while narrowly missing the postseason, and it has again been strong away from Petco Park in 2011.
That 15-12 road record hasn't meant much, though. The Padres lost 21 of their first 30 at home after falling 7-4 to the Astros on Thursday in the opener of a season-high 11-game homestand.
After the past two games, San Diego seems intent on turning around those woes. Dustin Moseley pitched seven strong innings in Friday's 3-1 victory, then Aaron Harang threw 6 2/3 effective innings Saturday in a 6-3 win.
"There's no doubt, it's been well-chronicled that our record isn't where we need it to be at home and we're going to try to do everything we can to catch up in that regard," manager Bud Black said.
San Diego still has a lot of work to do to overcome the majors' least effective offense, but it will have a better chance if Mat Latos (3-6, 3.97 ERA) can continue his personal turnaround. After beginning the season 0-5 with a 4.86 ERA and extending his losing streak since September to 10, Latos went 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA in his last four starts in May.
The right-hander held Atlanta to two runs and five hits over six innings Tuesday in a 5-4 victory, but Black still thinks Latos can do better.
"He was in position to have some short innings but couldn't put guys away," Black said. "I thought the hard slider was his good pitch later in the game tonight, the one he throws with velocity. When he has good depth to it, they swing over the top and miss it."
Facing the Astros (23-36) could help, but he struggled in Houston last month. Latos, who pitched eight shutout innings twice in victories over the Astros last season, gave up five runs over 6 1/3 innings in a 5-3 loss at Minute Maid Park on April 16.
Latos might need to be at his best against Jordan Lyles (0-0, 2.57), who did nothing to diminish his status as Houston's top pitching prospect in his major league debut despite costing himself a decision with his defense. Lyles' throwing error with a 1-0 lead in the eighth inning Tuesday against the Cubs led to a pair of runs, though the Astros later rallied to win 7-3.
"He was throwing everything for strikes, keeping guys off-balance, throwing exactly how we saw him throw in spring training," manager Brad Mills said of the 20-year-old Lyles, the majors' youngest active player. "He lived up to every expectation of every Astros fan, the management, the organization ... everything."
One player Lyles will want to pitch carefully is Ryan Ludwick. San Diego's left fielder, who was hitting .181 on May 10, is batting .373 with four homers and 22 RBIs in his last 22 games.
Ludwick is batting .410 in his last 17 contests against Houston.
They're hoping that's a title they won't have much longer.
6:35 PM ET, June 5, 2011
Petco Park, San Diego, California
Fresh off their first set of consecutive victories at Petco Park, the Padres look to win a series at home for just the second time Sunday in the finale of a four-game set with the Houston Astros.Starting Pitchers
Houston: Lyles (0-0, 2.57 ERA)
San Diego: Latos (3-6, 3.97 ERA)
San Diego (26-33) finished with identical 45-36 home and road records in 2010 while narrowly missing the postseason, and it has again been strong away from Petco Park in 2011.
That 15-12 road record hasn't meant much, though. The Padres lost 21 of their first 30 at home after falling 7-4 to the Astros on Thursday in the opener of a season-high 11-game homestand.
After the past two games, San Diego seems intent on turning around those woes. Dustin Moseley pitched seven strong innings in Friday's 3-1 victory, then Aaron Harang threw 6 2/3 effective innings Saturday in a 6-3 win.
"There's no doubt, it's been well-chronicled that our record isn't where we need it to be at home and we're going to try to do everything we can to catch up in that regard," manager Bud Black said.
San Diego still has a lot of work to do to overcome the majors' least effective offense, but it will have a better chance if Mat Latos (3-6, 3.97 ERA) can continue his personal turnaround. After beginning the season 0-5 with a 4.86 ERA and extending his losing streak since September to 10, Latos went 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA in his last four starts in May.
The right-hander held Atlanta to two runs and five hits over six innings Tuesday in a 5-4 victory, but Black still thinks Latos can do better.
"He was in position to have some short innings but couldn't put guys away," Black said. "I thought the hard slider was his good pitch later in the game tonight, the one he throws with velocity. When he has good depth to it, they swing over the top and miss it."
Facing the Astros (23-36) could help, but he struggled in Houston last month. Latos, who pitched eight shutout innings twice in victories over the Astros last season, gave up five runs over 6 1/3 innings in a 5-3 loss at Minute Maid Park on April 16.
Latos might need to be at his best against Jordan Lyles (0-0, 2.57), who did nothing to diminish his status as Houston's top pitching prospect in his major league debut despite costing himself a decision with his defense. Lyles' throwing error with a 1-0 lead in the eighth inning Tuesday against the Cubs led to a pair of runs, though the Astros later rallied to win 7-3.
"He was throwing everything for strikes, keeping guys off-balance, throwing exactly how we saw him throw in spring training," manager Brad Mills said of the 20-year-old Lyles, the majors' youngest active player. "He lived up to every expectation of every Astros fan, the management, the organization ... everything."
One player Lyles will want to pitch carefully is Ryan Ludwick. San Diego's left fielder, who was hitting .181 on May 10, is batting .373 with four homers and 22 RBIs in his last 22 games.
Ludwick is batting .410 in his last 17 contests against Houston.
